News came from across the sea. A dragon had come to Saddle Arabia. That is rare enough as it is, but it had also hewn a desperate lair into a mountain. Smoke from its mouth blotted out the sky. Yet no horse there could wake it.

Diplomatic cables blazed across the world, a tumultuous clatter begging for aid and answers. It soon became apparent that Princess Twilight Sparkle herself had lead the party that expelled the dragon. A delegation was now before her--lead by the heir apparent himself.

"Princess, what is the meaning of this? What in the nether regions of Tartarus possessed you, our ostensible allies, to send a dragon to our land?"

"We didn't send him to your land," Twilight asserted. "We sent him away. There's a big difference."

"Away?" The prince furrowed his brow. "You did not lead him to a safe location?"

"We thought he would find one on his own."

"So you admit you expelled a dragon without ensuring it would find a home away from inhabited areas?"

This was not wrong, Twilight realized. "Yes. On behalf of Equestria, I apologize for our negligence. But why would he have flown all the way to Saddle Arabia?"

"Who knows? I do not think it matters. But I recognize your apology, Princess. Now, this is not forgiveness. If, however, you can tell us how to vanquish the dragon, we will gladly extend that to you."

"Oh!" Twilight beamed. "Just prod him with a stick or something to wake him up. Then lead him somewhere safe. He isn't a bad dragon, you know."

The prince gave a long, deep sigh, nearly a guttural growl. "Princess Twilight, we have tried poking. We have tried prodding. We have, in fact, tried every weapon in our army, but we cannot even harm the dragon. Waking it is beyond us. Does Equestria have the means to do anything?"

Twilight's heart sank. "We...as far as I am aware, we do have means to slay him, but we will not do such a thing. It would be wrong to kill him because of our mistake. We will send pegasi to thin the smoke, but if we cannot safely wake him, we will do no more."

"I see," said the prince. "The pegasi will be appreciated, but ultimately inadequate. They will only make the impending famine less severe; they cannot prevent it."

"We will send food aid as well. It is the least we can do."

"Literally." The prince turned away. "It would seem we have nothing more to discuss."

---

Later, Twilight recalled her meeting to Princess Celestia.

"I feel absolutely miserable," said Twilight.

"You didn't do anything wrong," said the elder princess. "That was the best thing to do, was it not?"

"I guess it was. But that isn't fair to the Saddle Arabians."

"Twilight, even as a princess, you can't make everypony happy. Sometimes people get hurt no matter what you do."

Twilight scowled. "That's meant to comfort me, but it doesn't actually make anything better."

"That's what destiny is. We have to take the good and the bad."

"Destiny?" Twilight snapped. "You can't grow crops by the light of destiny."

"Then tell me, Twilight, what actions would you have taken to prevent this?" Celestia's words were warm and soothing.

"How can you be so nonchalant?" Twilight quaked with rage. "Saddle Arabians are going to die, and it's all our fault! And we don't have the power to set it right! All I can do is worry, and I don't see why it's so wrong to worry."

"Princess Twilight Sparkle," Celestia intoned. The younger princess snapped to attention. "Your concern for the welfare of the Saddle Arabians is admirable, but do not forget that you are a princess of Equestria. Now, I'll ask you again: what would you have done differently?"

I would have led him to the Badlands, Twilight thought. But I was barely aware of that place back then. And there's a reason the dragon went to Saddle Arabia instead of there. I guess it's true. Just sending the dragon off was the best decision.

"Nothing," said Twilight.

"Can you truly say that?"

"Yes."

Celestia smiled.